Aberdeen-Inverness line to reopen on-time for passengers

(Press release Network Rail:) 19 August 2019 - The railway between Aberdeen and Huntly will reopened as planned tomorrow morning (Tuesday, August 20) following the successful completion of a 15-week-long project to upgrade the line.

Since May 4, engineers have been working around-the-clock to double the track between Dyce and Inverurie and upgrade signalling systems between Aberdeen and Huntly.

Over 10 miles of new rail has been laid across more than 41,000 sleepers as part of the work, which has also seen signalling upgraded and 19 bridges on the line either refurbished or replaced.

During the closure, work also began on the new Kintore station, with both platforms beginning to take shape.

Part of the Scottish Government-funded Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project these upgrades will help to increase services and cut journey times on the line between the two cities.

From December this year, Scotland’s Railway will be introducing a significantly enhanced service between Aberdeen, Dyce and Inverurie.

Passengers will see:

Increase in services that call at Inverurie each weekday from 45 to 76, with a similar improvement on Saturdays.

This will mean up to three trains per hour and includes two additional morning peak trains into Aberdeen and an additional evening peak train out of Aberdeen.

An improved cross-city service, with 27 trains per day between Inverurie, Dyce, Stonehaven and Montrose. This includes an additional direct morning peak service from Montrose to Dyce and Inverurie.

Additional early and late services between Elgin and Aberdeen.

Billy McKay, Network Rail senior programme manager, said: ‘The Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project will help to transform choice for customers on the route – meaning more services and more seats for passengers. Our engineers have worked hard to deliver this massive investment in new tracks, signalling, bridges and platforms as quickly and professionally as possible. We appreciate the understanding passengers, and our line-side neighbours, have shown over the last 15 weeks while we have delivered this important investment in Scotland’s Railway.'

Nissar Mohammed, project director for main contractor BAM Nuttall, said:
‘We’re very proud to have reached another major milestone for the improvement of rail services in the north of Scotland. Investment in rail is an investment in the future of the region and our team has led the way, using local suppliers and a local workforce to deliver these crucial railway enhancements. The completion of this blockade marks the end of an intensive period of work for my team and I’d like to thank them for the efforts they have shown over the past weeks and months. I’d also like to thank the local community for their patience and cooperation while we delivered this work.’

Derek Glasgow, ScotRail Aberdeen-Inverness project manager, said: ‘This has been a highly successful project and now that it has been completed, it will play a critical role in delivering a better service for our customers, as we continue to invest in Scotland’s Railway. We are looking forward to making enhancements to services on the route to take full advantage of the infrastructure improvements that have been delivered.’